How much is Kona coffee? Depending on its origin, it can cost anywhere from eight dollars to over sixty-five dollars per pound. But how do you determine if the coffee is worth the price? Please read this article to learn more about the cost of Kona coffee, what makes it unique, and where to find the beans. And once you’ve figured out the prices, you can easily compare them with other coffees.
Price ranges from $8 to $65 per pound
If you’re a gourmet coffee lover, you probably already know about the high cost of Kona coffee. It’s grown only on the Big Island of Hawaii and must be from the Kona region. However, how much do you spend on a single pound of Kona coffee? While you’d love to drink a cup of it at every opportunity, the cost can get expensive quickly.
The cost of a single pound of 100% Kona coffee is quite expensive. While a cup of 100% Kona coffee can cost nearly $50, you’ll likely pay eight dollars or more. That’s because Kona coffee is harvested by hand. The cherry is hand-picked from the tree’s ripe fruit several weeks after it has been plucked. Because it’s so rare, farmers must pay a minimum of 65 cents per pound to pick the coffee cherries. The price can range anywhere from $8 to $65 per pound.
You’ve probably heard of Kona Joe if you’re a coffee lover. The company is a coffee roaster and sells its brand of coffee. However, I don’t think that it’s 100% Kona. Kona Joe coffee is sourced from neighboring farms and roasted by Kona Joe. So, it’s not exactly 100% Kona, but it’s still delicious.
Guests can visit the plantation hidden in a cloud forest on Hualalai Mountain. The welcoming gift shop offers free samples of Kona coffee, and the company also provides educational videos on the coffee-making process. You can also tour the plantation and roast a half pound of your own. You’ll need at least a day to get a full tour of the coffee plantation.
If you’re not in the mood for tasting, you can purchase a pound of Kona coffee online. Prices are generally from $8 to $65 per pound. Kona coffee is available in many flavors and can be purchased online. It’s also known for shipping to mainland countries. You can always try Kona at a local coffee shop if you’re in the mood to spend a little money on your coffee.
Origin
The origin of Kona coffee is a mystery. But it has long been popular and highly regarded. In 1828, a missionary planted the first coffee tree in Kona. This pioneer eventually moved to Hawaii’s Big Island to start a coffee farm. The early years of coffee farming were difficult due to the great depression and soaring prices. By the late 1800s, though, Kona coffee was starting to stabilize in popularity, and its commercial viability had become more stable. In 1873, the coffee agronomist Henry Nicholas Greenwell introduced ladybugs to the island, eliminating the problem of white-scale infestation. The growing methods also improved as time went on.
Since Kona coffee is expensive, many coffee roasters began selling a blend with a small percentage of Kona beans. By law, a coffee blend can contain no more than 10% Kona beans. Some roasters even sold non-Kona beans as Kona coffee. One roaster even sold unroasted Central American beans under the Kona label. Despite the high prices of Kona coffee, it’s still worth the price.
In the late 1840s, Samuel Ruggles introduces the first coffee tree to Hawaii. It took nearly three decades for more than three million trees to grow in Kona. Today, there are over 650 farms growing coffee in the Kona District. Approximately 95% of the coffee produced on the Big Island is Kona coffee. There are more than 100 varieties of Kona coffee, and the region boasts some of the world’s highest-quality coffee.
While some coffee blends may contain 100% Kona coffee, it is essential to know the difference between 100% and Kona Blend. While the word “Kona” is protected under Hawaiian law, “Kona Blend” refers to the percentage of Kona coffee on the label. Kona Roast is not a protected term but is made from coffee beans. And you will be glad to know that 100% Kona coffee is the real deal.
The origin of Kona coffee is unique and exclusive. It cannot be grown outside of the Kona coffee belt. In the area, coffee trees are planted on the slopes of the Mauna Loa and Hualalai mountains. In addition to a perfect climate, the soil is rich in volcanic ash. This helps produce the best coffee. There are over 800 farms in the Kona region. The Hawaiian Ministry of Agriculture plants coffee and grows the beans.
Quality
If you love the taste of premium coffee, you must try the world-renowned Kona Coffee. This gourmet coffee is grown on the Kona Coast in Hawaii. Its high elevation, temperate climate, and volcanic soil make it the world’s highest grade of coffee. Because of its unique character, the coffee is highly-priced. Although some brands label their blends as Kona, they contain less expensive coffee from other regions.
The quality of Kona coffee varies depending on the size, shape, moisture content, and rarity. The first five HDA grades are considered “High Grade” and are more expensive than other types. But, even those beans with high rates are considered “Fancy” if they are uniform in size and contain almost no defect. However, it is essential to note that only a tiny percentage of each bean is Extra Fancy.
Some farms are exploring new ways of producing Kona coffee and learning that Coffee Boost does not help improve the quality of their product. Kona farmers have harvested new coffee varieties in the last few years, including Bourbon, Catura, Catuai, Maragogipe, and Blue Mountain. Some of these coffees are entering competitions and making their way to market. While some farmers may be uncomfortable with the negative reviews, the results will be worth it.
Once the berries have been picked, the coffee is processed. It goes through several stages, including the pulping stage. The pulped coffee beans are weighed, measured, and graded. After that, they undergo a fermentation process, which removes mucilage. Then, the coffee cherries are processed again mechanical to make them ready for the following procedure. The final product may take anywhere from 10 to 14 days to reach marketable levels.
As with any coffee, terroir plays a significant role in Kona coffee’s quality. Hawaii is far more north of the equator than many other coffee regions. This location has a unique micro-climate that allows early morning sunlight to reach the beans in the best possible way. The volcanic soil is rich in minerals, providing increased drainage and runoff. While Kona is a highly sought-after specialty coffee, other premium origins are also gaining in popularity.
Cost
Although it may seem like a relatively high price for a cup of coffee, making Kona is quite labor intensive. Farmers pick the coffee beans by hand in a recurring cycle when they reach the ripest stage. One pound of coffee beans can cost anywhere from $14 to $15, not including marketing, supplies, transportation, and taxes. Many coffee growers pay high wages in the US, so the cost of Kona coffee is significantly higher than that of other types of coffee.
Hawaii is famous for its coffee, and it is no wonder that many companies in the state use Kona to boost their bottom line. Several coffee companies in the state sell the coffee to restaurants and hotels. But, the costs are prohibitive for most people. Many consumers don’t know that Hawaii produces this coffee. Luckily, there are several ways to reduce the cost of Kona coffee without compromising the quality of the product.
One of the easiest ways to cut costs is to choose locally grown coffee. Kona coffee comes from a small island in the Pacific Ocean. It is produced in a relatively small area of the island, and the only way to ensure you’re getting 100% Kona coffee is to buy it directly from the farm. In addition, to purchase coffee from the farm, you can learn which stores carry the specialty coffee. However, it would help if you kept in mind that the cost of Kona coffee can be as much as five times more than that of other coffee varieties.
As with any specialty product, the cost of Kona coffee will be high at first, but it will eventually drop once the popularity of the coffee has spread across the globe. In the meantime, if the price of Kona coffee continues to rise, it will become too expensive for ordinary consumers to afford it. The only way to increase the cost of Kona coffee is to allow it to be sold to out-of-state roasters.
